Barcode Scanners vs XL Sidekick
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Barcode Scanners
This app offers robust barcode scanning capabilities, supporting over 30 different types including QR, UPC, and Data Matrix. It provides powerful parsing for industry-standard formats like driver's licenses and GS1 codes, simplifying data extraction.
- Scan over 30 barcode types
- QR code scanning
- UPC scanning
- Data Matrix scanning
- GS1 code parsing
- Driver's license data parsing
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Barcode scanning made simple! Use this powerful app to easily scan over 30 different types of barcodes, including QR, UPC, GS1, Data Matrix, PDF417, DotCode, and many others. The Cognex Barcode Scanners application reads all major barcode symbologies, including Aztec Code, Codabar, Code 11, Code 25 (Interleaved, Industrial, COOP, Matrix and ITF-14), Code 39, Code 93, Code 128, Data Matrix, DotCode, EAN, ISBN, GS1 DataBar, MaxiCode, MSI Plessey, PDF417, Micro PDF417, Postal Codes, QR Code (Micro and Standard), TELEPEN and UPC barcode types, as well as GS1 sub-types like GS1 QR Code, GS1 Data Matrix and GS1-128. The app also provides powerful parsers to examine industry standard formatted barcodes more easily such as AAMVA (US and Canadian Driver’s Licenses), GS1, IUID, Structured Carrier Messages (MaxiCode), and more! To learn more about Cognex's high-speed barcode scanning and computer vision solutions, visit https://www.cognex.com.
XL Sidekick
Enhance manufacturing productivity with a companion app for XL devices. Enter data, view real-time production insights, and mirror operator displays on your mobile device. Securely access information from anywhere on your plant floor.
- Data entry via action screens
- Real-time production data visualization
- Operator display mirroring (scoreboard)
- Secure local network access
- Free to use and support
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XL Sidekick is an integral part of Vorne’s next generation platform for improving manufacturing productivity, accelerating your digital transformation, and fostering a culture of productivity. Interact with any XL devices running version 2.21 or later. Sidekick provides an alternative to using barcode scanners for data entry, and adds simple data visualization on a tablet or smartphone from anywhere in your plant: Use action screens to assign a reason when the line goes down, enter reject quantities, start the next part, and more. Use data screens to view detailed, real-time production data for the shift, part, and hour. For XL HD, XL HD+, and XL Touch models, use the scoreboard screen to see exactly what operators on the line are seeing. Once you enable access through XL device configuration, Sidekick works on your local network safely behind your firewall, just like your XL devices. Sidekick is free, and technical support for Sidekick is free. So, if you have any questions, just contact us at support@vorne.com. XL Sidekick collects diagnostic and other data that is not linked to you for app functionality. The data transmitted from Sidekick to the XL device is typically the same information entered at the Vorne XL device using barcodes and/or a touchscreen interface. Data sent off the device does not identify you or your device.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ratings volume: Barcode Scanners at 811 against XL Sidekick's 4. Barcode Scanners also leads on iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.1). XL Sidekick's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.6). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
XL Sidekick holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Barcode Scanners has 811 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Barcode Scanners ships an update every 5 months, XL Sidekick every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Barcode Scanners | XL Sidekick |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (811 ratings) | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 87.8% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 811 — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 3 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 35 MB | 30 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Cognex Corporation | Vorne Industries, Inc. |
Customer experience
Barcode Scanners
XL Sidekick
Bugs and requests
Barcode Scanners
Reported bugs
3 issues- App crashing after iOS 12.3.1 update
- Unable to scan certain barcode types (e.g. GS1 DataMatrix)
- Frozen camera view after initial scan
Requested features
4 requests- Option to disable tips/tooltips on startup
- Batch export/logging of scan history
- Ability to display non-readable characters
- Deeper Shortcuts integration
XL Sidekick
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Barcode Scanners
No in-app purchases
XL Sidekick
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Barcode Scanners free?
Is XL Sidekick free?
Which has better reviews, Barcode Scanners or XL Sidekick?
Do Barcode Scanners or XL Sidekick have ads?
Which is updated more often, Barcode Scanners or XL Sidekick?
Other comparisons
